Aruna Bheda, wife of Anil Bheda, the prime witness in the Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya fake encounter case, has sought police protection apprehending threat to her life. She has also decided to seek compensation from the state government for the alleged abduction and murder of her husband.

Gupta and Bheda were picked up by the police on November 11, 2006, from Vashi, following which Gupta was killed an alleged fake encounter at Nana-Nani Park in Versova. Bheda went missing from his Navi Mumbai residence on March 13 this year and the police informed the Bombay HC in July that his remains were found at a forest in Manor.

Aruna’s counsel Vijay Pradhan on Thursday sought permission of the court to amend her petition for adding the two reliefs. A division bench of justice AM Khanwilkar and justice PD Kode granted him permission and adjourned further hearing for three weeks.

Aruna had moved the court after her husband went missing, a few days ahead of his scheduled deposition before a sessions court trying 22 accused, including encounter specialists Pradeep Sharma, Pradeep Suryavanshi and some other policemen in this case.

Bheda’s kidnap and murder case was earlier transferred to the state Crime Investigation Department (CID), which was directed to file a report indicating progress in investigation.

Accordingly, additional government pleader Ajay Gadkari submitted a report of an additional superintendent of police, CID.